Tory AM Kemi Badenoch selected for Essex Commons seat

London Assembly member Kemi Badenoch is on course to join the Commons after being selected as the Conservative party’s candidate for Saffron Walden at next month’s general election.

Ms Badenoch joined the Assembly in September 2015 when she replaced list member Victoria Borwick who left the Assembly following her election as MP for Kensington.

She stood for re-election at last year’s City Hall election and serves on the body’s transport and policing and crime committees. Badenoch also serves as her party’s economy spokesperson.

At the last election Saffron Walden’s outgoing MP, Sir Alan Haselhurst, held a majority of 24,991, making Badenoch’s election to the Commons all but guaranteed.

Other serving AMs selected as parliamentary candidates are the Green party’s Sian Berry, who is standing against Labour’s Keir Starmer in Holborn and St Pancras, her party colleague Caroline Russell, who will standing in Islington North and Labour’s Navin Shah.

UKIP’s David Kurten who is standing in Castle Point where his party came second behind the Tories in 2015 and his colleague and party’s deputy leader, Peter Whittle is also expected to stand.